Kidney Facts

The kidneys are a pair of reddish-brown organs located on either side of the spine just below the diaphragm, behind the liver and stomach. They are bean-shaped and about 4 and 1/2 inches long, 2 and 1/2 inches wide and one inch thick. The primary function of the kidneys is to remove waste from the body through the production of urine. They also help to regulate blood pressure, blood volume and the chemical (electrolyte) composition of the blood.

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Common Diseases That May Lead to Transplantation

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is committed to providing accurate and reliable information for transplant patients.The content on this page was originally created on August 1, 2003 by UNOS and last modified on December 20, 2005.

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